Lohri, the festival that marks the end of winter, is here. It is that time of the year when families gather around a bonfire and dance to some gidda (folk dance).
If you want to do your bit to save the planet, without letting it get in the way of your celebrations, then The Quint has the perfect solution for you. Introducing, the ‘Green Lohri’.
Be Good, Don’t Use Much Wood
Instead of celebrating Lohri in Bollywood ishtyle – which usually involves a large clan dancing around a bonfire that burns higher than the Empire State Building – resolve to keep it simple this year.
Prepare a small bonfire that doesn’t call for much wood. Would you rather use up a large pile of wood, or would you rather breathe clean air? The choice is yours.
Holy Cow!
Here’s a stinker! The burning of cow dung during Lohri can be extremely harmful for the environment. Cow dung burns quickly and emits smoke that makes breathing difficult.
‘Leave’ it Alone
Think before you gather up dry leaves and branches to add to your bonfire. These emit toxic gasses that add to the already poisonous environment.
Seeds of Life
It’s the perfect time to apply the Theory of Compensation. According to the Cambridge University Press, compensation serves to right what would otherwise count as wrongful injuries to people or their property.
Make a difference this year and plant a sapling or two during Lohri.